#20 Eat for a Healthy Heart

#19 Adapt Some Diet Secrets from the Stars

Many of Hollywood’s stars have their own diet secrets that they use to maintain a healthy body. Some are very strict with what they do, while others may be a little more lax. Everyone is different, but let’s take a look and see who does what. You can adapt these tips as you see fit.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson is well know for being an extreme vegetarian and member of PETA. She does not eat red meat, chicken, pork, fish, or seafood. When she is cooking, she chews sugar-free gum. She does this to keep herself from taking samples prior to mealtime.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise does not stick to a strict diet by any means. He has actually been known to refuse them regardless of the advice he has been given by directors and the like. He prefers to do things his own way. He partakes in rigorous workout routines instead. He works out at the gym for an hour and a half each day.

Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne went from having a really poor diet to having a very healthy diet. She was previously eating a lot of sugars and carbs. However, after meeting with a nutritionalist, she found out she had low blood sugar. Since then, she has made a transformation into eating a much healthier diet. She sticks to a vegan diet 90% of the time now. The other 10% she saves for her diet cheating where she does indulge in some junk food.

Usher

Usher is well known for having a ripped six pack of abs. It is no secret that he is extremely disciplined and puts forth a lot of dedication and hard work into maintaining his six pack and fit body. He partakes in a strict cardio regimen that he refers to as “Forty Minutes of Funk.” He starts off with a warmup that includes stretching, skipping, and jumping jacks. He then moves onto the main workout which is filled with a combination of pushups, leg raises, and tricep dips. He does this on top of his daily 1,000 crunches. He also gets quite a good workout when he is on stage. Aside from working out, Usher also maintains a strict diet. He sticks to eating mainly chicken breast, fish, a limited amount of carbs, and a lot of fruits and vegetables. Usher is extremely disciplined. If he knows he shouldn’t eat, he doesn’t eat. He is known for going on a diet that consists of fish, chicken, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.

#18 Have an Amazing Body After Pregnancy

When you are pregnant, it is quite obvious that you will gain weight. You are eating for two after all. Most women gain around 25lbs when they are pregnant. After having the baby, you may struggle to lose weight. You just need a little motivation to get you going towards getting an amazing body after pregnancy.

Get motivated.

Many women have different motivators. You may want to show your family that you have healthy eating habits, so they will have the same. Your healthy may begin to matter more to you as you now have children you want to watch grow up. You may want to be better fit so you can keep up with your kids. Going through your closet realizing none of your pre-pregnancy clothes are fitting can also give you a boost. Whatever your motivation may be, hold onto it and use it to help you on your journey to lose weight after you’ve had your baby.

Put your motivation into action.

Many women turn to Weight Watchers. While Weight Watchers is a great program that will teach you a lot, you can get the same results for less money. Pick up a few workout DVD’s. You can do them during nap time. Find something that you think will work for you. Some women choose Tae Bo. Others choose Yoga. A new set of workout DVD’s are the P90X. What you choose is up to you as you know what will be something you can stick to.

If you get a chance to get out of the house, you can use your time to help you lose weight too. You can put your baby in the stroller and go for a walk. Maybe you enjoy playing some summertime sports like tennis. In the evening maybe you can go for a short jog. You want to remain active to help yourself lose weight.

Aside from staying active, what you eat is also going to help. Be sure to stay away from the junk food you craved during pregnancy. Eat fresh and homemade foods as they are much better for you. Foods of convenience are generally high in fat and calories. You want to take in a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein. However, even when you are eating healthy it is still important to practice portion control. Too much of anything can make you gain weight.

If you remain active, eat nutritional foods, and practice portion control; you will be on your way to losing your baby weight. Before you know it you will have an amazing body. You will fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes in no time. Maybe you’ll even be smaller than you were before pregnancy. Keep your goals in mind and work towards them.

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#17 Use Healthy Cooking Oils

When you are trying to lose weight, you have probably been told that oils and fats are bad when you are trying to lose weight. While this is generally true, there are healthy fats and oils you can use. However, some should not be heated as they can in turn get oxidized and become destroyed once they are heated. Therefore, you should find which fats and oils are healthy to cook with and which would be alright to mix with cold foods, such as a salad.

By now you should be aware of the fact that vegetable oils are the worst to cook with. They are extremely high in fat content. This includes vegetable, canola, corn, safflower, soybean, and sunflower. Therefore, you should do your very best to steer clear of these fats and oils.

You may be wondering what oils and fats are healthy to cook with. Among the healthy oils are avocado oil, coconut oil, and peanut oil. Butter is also a healthy fat you can cook with as well. However, you do still want to somewhat limit your use of butter as it can easily become body fat. Coconut oil is probably the best you and most readily available oil for you to cook with. Coconut oil actually makes you burn more fat, which is a huge bonus when you are trying to lose weight. Avocado oil is also very good for you, but it is not as available as coconut oil.

While there are some great health benefits to be gained by using certain oils and fats, some are not good for cooking. This includes flaxseed oil, olive oil, sesame oil, and walnut oil. Olive oil gives off great heart health benefits. However, if heated it will become oxidized and destroyed. The same is true of flaxseed oil, sesame oil, and walnut oil too.

So, be sure to stay away from the unhealthy, fatty vegetable oils. When you are cooking, be sure to use coconut oil or avocado oil if it is available to you. When making a salad, use olive oil to dress your salad with. You will remain healthy and lose weight when you stick to these rules.

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#16 Don’t Pack on the Pounds with Ice Cream

When it comes to summertime, everyone’s favorite summertime treat seems to be ice cream. This can prove to be a big issue if you’re looking to get fit and stay that way. Ice cream is very high in calories. Therefore, if you want to satisfy your ice cream cravings this summer, you will have to find some low-calorie options.

The biggest thing you will have to learn in staying fit is portion control. With ice cream, you will have to do your best to stay under 200 calories. This can be difficult as many ice creams are very high in caloric content. It’s the butterfat and sugar that gives ice cream it’s high calorie count.

Luckily, there are frozen treats out there that have found a way to cut the calories. These frozen treats have cut the cream and have added thickeners that give the illusion of it containing the high content of cream. Low-fat frozen treats that are low in calories have also replaced the sugar with artificial sweeteners.

You have some different options when you are trying to choose a low-fat frozen treat that is also low in calories. You can find a low-fat, low-calorie ice cream. Breyers as well as Haagen Dazs offers some good choices of low-fat, low-calorie ice cream. They range in calories from 130 to 220 with only 5 grams of fat, which is much better than your regular ice cream. You can also try goat’s milk ice cream, which only contains around 160 calories and 6 grams of fat. Frozen yogurt is another option, which only contains 200 calories and 3 grams of fat. Lastly, you can also indulge in sorbet that only contains 100 calories and 0 grams of fat.

As you can see, you can still satisfy your craving for a sweet, frozen treat. There are several alternative options available to you. If you’re looking for the healthiest option, you should definitely give sorbet a try. It tastes good and has the least amount of calories and no fat content. You truly can’t go wrong.

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#15 Music Can Help You Lose Weight

When it comes to working out, you should definitely try to make it fun. Having a fun work out makes it feel less like work. Listening to music is one way you can definitely make your workout fun. Music can keep you awake, alive, and motivated as you work out. A lot of studies have been done to prove the great benefits of listening to music while working out.

Increase the speed of your workout.

The Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science conducted a study that proved how listening to music with a faster tempo during your workouts can benefit your workout. During the study, when the music became faster the participants put more power into their workout. It was shown that the faster the tempo of the music, the more rigorously people will work out.

Get motivated.

Music has also been shown to keep people going as they work out. When there is music being listened to, people will continue on for longer periods of time than if they were not listening to music. It has been shown that when the lyrics are inspiring, you will spend more time working out. Songs that include the phrases Push it, Work it, and I believe are just some motivational lyrics that will keep you going.

Make working out seem easier.

Many people have a tough time working out when it appears to be a lot of work. If you listen to music while you are working out it becomes more fun and less like work. Listening to music can also lower your rate of exertion. The music even keeps away the feeling of being tired, which also makes working out a lot easier.

Pump more iron.

Listening to music can help you to pump more iron. Studies have shown that people will pump weights longer if they are listening to music. The melody and rhythm help to psych your brain influencing you to stay strong. This occurs both before and during the process.

Uplift your spirits.

As you work out while listening to music, you will find that it is uplifting to your mood. So, before your next workout be sure to get some moving songs downloaded to your iPod. They will keep you moving and help you to burn fat and calories.

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#14 Get More Sleep to Lose Weight

Are you trying to lose weight, but struggling no matter what you try? Well, maybe it’s time you evaluate your sleep schedule. Studies have shown that those who sleep more hours in a night are able to lose weight and/or maintain a healthy weight easier than lose who are living on little sleep day to day. Getting very little sleep at night has actually been linked as one of the leading factors in obesity. So, each night you should aim to get anywhere from 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night.

However, if you are sleeping a good amount each night and are still not having any luck losing weight then you should also evaluate the time you usually go to bed. The time in which you go to sleep at night has also been said to have an affect on weight. Generally those who stay up late eat more calories than lose who go to sleep earlier. You know, those late night snacks? Well, those snacks have a significant impact on your weight because of the timing. It is also said that usually those who go to sleep late and sleep late don’t take in as many healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables in comparison to those with a better sleep schedule.

As sleep patterns have been linked to making losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight, it has been researched. It is said that the reason our sleep patterns effect our weight is because our circadian rhythm is being interfered with. Our bodies were created to stay in tune with day and night. So, when we are awake when we should be sleeping and sleeping when we should be awake, it definitely throws us off.

So, if you’re looking to lose a little weight, try going to sleep a little earlier. Shoot to be in bed before midnight. Stay in bed for 6-8 hours. You will feel more rested and as this becomes a normalcy in your life, it will definitely help you to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

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#13 Try Out the #1 Diet in the United States

When you’re looking for a diet, you obviously want one that has been proven to work. Wouldn’t it also make you feel at ease if you chose a diet that has been ranked as the best diet in the United States? Well, if you want to try out the currently best rated diet in the US, then you should give the DASH diet a try. The DASH diet has been proven to work for not only losing weight, but also improving health. This diet has been known to assist with lowering blood pressure as well as cholesterol. Aside from that, it has also been said to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, heart failure, certain cancers, kidney stones, osteoporosis, and diabetes.

This diet is a completely research-based diet, whereas it is based upon the research of Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet is recommended by The American Heart Association, The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, US Guidelines for Treatment of High Blood Pressure, and The National Lung, Heart, and Blood Institute. Another thing you can keep in mind about the DASH diet is how they formed the basis for the USDA MyPyramid.

With all of these great reviews and recommendations of the DASH diet, you are probably wondering what it is. The DASH diet is a diet that includes an abundant amount of fruits, vegetables, and low-fat or non-fat dairy. It also includes grains, fish, lean meats, poultry, beans, and nuts. As far as grains are concerned, the main focus is on whole grains. The DASH diet includes many of the same healthy foods found in the Mediterranean diet. It is basically just a healthier way of eating and way of life. It will lower your cholesterol, which will in turn help you to lose weight.

Many diets these days are geared towards a specific group of people. However, this is not true of the DASH diet. The DASH diet is just a healthier way of life that can be experienced by anyone. It is good for the entire family. With all of the benefits of the DASH diet, there is no reason why you shouldn’t give it a try.

The DASH diet is a proven diet. It has been researched for a long time now. It helps to lower your blood pressure by taking in certain nutrients that promote bringing down blood pressure. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Some people even try and take it to the full extent and also lower their sodium intake as that will also aid in lowering your cholesterol.

So, if you’re looking for a healthier diet and even lifestyle, you should definitely check out the DASH diet. It is the number one diet in the United States currently. It has also been researched and proven to be a valid diet that works. You truly can’t go wrong with the DASH diet as there are so many benefits of it.

#12 Use Your Repressed Anger For Positive Release

Did you know that you can use your repressed anger to lose weight and become more fit? Instead of using your anger to be destructive, you can actually use it to your benefit. Don’t go punching walls and throwing things. Instead, channel your repressed anger into working out. Anger is energy; negative energy if it is used to be destructive. However, if you use this energy to work out, it can then be viewed as positive energy.

When you work out, you are releasing that energy. As you are working out, you are exerting your adrenaline. Running is one of the most common exercises you can do to exert repressed anger. If you’re not much of a runner, you can also go for a brisk walk. You can do many simple exercises without even going to a gym such as push ups, sit ups, and crunches. However, if you decide to take a few hours and go to the gym, you can use many different pieces of equipment. Some things you can try in a gym is a treadmill, stair stepper, elliptical machine, and many others.

Aside from working out, it will be important to form a diet that you can stick to. If you are still eating junk food while you’re working out, you will not be able to gain the full benefit you would if you followed a healthy diet as well. You want to eat healthy and take in a healthy amount of calories. However many calories is ideal for your body mass index and activity level, subtract 500 from that. That should be your daily calorie intake goal. This will help to keep your weight stable.

The great thing about working out to release your repressed anger is that as you are seeing results you will begin to feel much better about yourself. As you begin to feel better about yourself, it is possible that your anger will dissipate. Even if this does happen, you may want to continue on with a healthier lifestyle to prevent any future anger outbreaks.

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#11 Try Out The New Master Cleanse Diet

There are so many different diets out there these days to be tried. Among the abundance of diets, there is the master cleanse diet. The master cleanse diet is also known as the lemonade diet. I have to say, this is a strange diet. However, it does provide results. This diet was used by Beyonce Knowles prior to her role in Dreamgirls and lost twenty-two pounds in total at the end of the diet.

Basically what the lemonade diet is, is a colon cleanse. This diet has a very different goal than most diets. Instead of trying to lose fat, this diet’s main goal is to get rid of the plaque that is sticking to your intestines. This diet will help to cleanse your body of harmful toxins.

The master cleanse diet is not a long-term diet. Instead, this diet only lasts for a duration of ten days. However, the diet is completed in three different phases. The phases of this diet include Ease-In, The Lemonade Diet, and Ease-Out. It is not a requirement to do the diet in all three phases, but it can be helpful. The Ease-In phase prepares your body for less food, so although you can skip it, it would probably be wise not to so your body doesn’t go into shock.

The first three days of the master cleanse diet are dedicated to the Ease-In phase. During this time, you can gather all of the ingredients you will need for the rest of the diet. These ingredients include:

• Bio-Metric Measures (body fat ananlyzers, PH meters, scales, and any other devices to measure the progression and results of your cleanse)
• Journals (to record your progress, challenges, achievements, and more)
• Juicers (hand or electric)
• Laxatives (to promote daily bowel movements for your detox)
• Herbal Teas (natural and decaffeinated)
• Sea Salt (used for The Salt Water Flush)
• Measuring Spoons

Day 1: Living Food Diet

The first day of the Ease-In phase is referred to as the Living Food Diet because you will only be consuming live foods. You will not be eating processed foods, meat, or dairy. Instead, you will be eating fruits and vegetables. However, you want to limit your fruit intake as fruits are high in sugar. You will generally want to stick to a 15:10 ratio of vegetables to fruits.

Day 2: Juicing, Blending, Soups, and Broths

During day two, you will be preparing your body for a liquid diet. This step will deliver macro nutrients into your bloodstream quicker. When foods are broken down into liquids, they hit our bloodstream quicker. During this step you will begin to enjoy the juicing of fruits and vegetables. You will also begin to enjoy smoothies. However, to get away from the drinks; there are also the options for making some delicious soups and broths for you to enjoy.

Day 3: Orange Juice

You can never have enough orange juice, right? Well, during day three you sure can’t! During day three, you need juice enough oranges to make two liters of orange juice! You can mix your orange juice with water to taste if you wish. Also, if you would like to increase your caloric intake on this day, you may want to consider mixing in a little Maple Syrup.

As you are getting into The Lemonade Diet, you will want to flush out the toxins you are eliminating with this diet. There are two acceptable options for this since you won’t be eating foods that contain fiber to help you create a bowel movement. So, you can either take a nightly laxative or do the Salt Water Flush. If you chose the nightly laxative method, you should have taken your first laxative the night before day 1. However, if you have chosen the Salt Water Flush method, you do not need to do the Salt Water Flush on your first full day so you can begin drinking your lemonade right when you wake up.

Once you have completed the first three days of the Ease-In phase of the master cleanse diet, you can then begin the main phase of the diet, which is called The Lemonade Diet. You will wake up each morning and make your fresh lemonade. If you are doing the Salt Water Flush for your Daily Detox Bowel Movement, then you should consume your first glass of lemonade after your first bowel movement.

It is advised that you don’t pre-mix your lemonade. The longer the lemonade sits, the more enzymes die. You will be drinking anywhere from 6 to 12 glasses of lemonade a day. However, some people have consumed as many as 26 glasses in a day. How many glasses you drink depends on your calorie needs, your urges to eat, and your desire to lose weight. If you drink more, you will lose less weight. However, it is not advised to drink less than 6 glasses per day.

Lemonade Diet Ingredients:

Mix the following ingredients together in a tall glass.

• 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
• 1/10 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 8oz. pure water

Aside from drinking your lemonade, you will also want to drink pure water throughout the day. This will cleanse your palate of the lemonade. Not only that, but consuming water will also continue the illusion that you are full. You can drink just as much pure water as you do lemonade. All of the liquids you consume during this diet is the reason why the diet is successful. Most people are dehydrated and eat when they are thirsty because they can’t differentiate between the cravings.

The Detox of The Master Cleanse Diet is done mainly through bowel movements. Therefore, inducing a bowel movement either by using a laxative or by doing the Salt Water Flush is vital to this diet. If you choose to go the Salt Water Flush route, you take a BPA free water bottle and mix in two teaspoons of sea salt to your pure water. Keep in mind that the Salt Water Flush must be done on an empty stomach. Shake up your mixture and chug! You don’t want to stop in the middle because you will then taste the sea salt, which will trigger your gag reflex. You need to keep the mixture down or it won’t work. Once you have finished the mixture, in under an hour you should produce a bowel movement. So, standby.

When it comes to the duration of the Lemonade Diet, it really depends on your goals, wants, and needs. The recommended minimum is 10 days. However, some people choose to go for longer. Keep in mind that the longer you continue the Lemonade Diet, the more challenging it will be. Two weeks is definitely more than sufficient, but the longest recorded is 372 days by Tom Woloshyn. Something some people do is 10 days on the diet and 10 days off for up to 2 months. This is called cleanse stacking.

When it comes to the Ease-Out phase of the Lemonade Diet, it is the exact same as the Ease-In phase. The only difference is that it is in reverse. You may be tempted to breeze through this phase, but it is advised that you don’t do that. If you rush into eating too soon, you can become nauseous. While you do the Ease-Out phase, it is important that you drink a lot of water. This will help to keep you from becoming constipated as you begin adding the fruit and vegetable juices back into your diet. So, go back to the Ease-In phase and perform it in reverse to complete the Ease-Out phase.

The most important thing you want to keep in mind once you complete the Master Cleanse Diet is to eat healthy. If you don’t eat wisely, you will only re-gain all of the weight you just dedicated yourself to losing. That will mean you will have just wasted your time and energy just to gain it all back. So, stick to a healthier lifestyle.

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